5 Brands Like Madewell That Offer Affordable Wardrobe Essentials

Everlane

Everlane is by far the best match for brands similar to Madewell. Expect modern essentials that you could curate into a minimalist’s dream capsule wardrobe. I’d consider the two brands basically twins, as they both prioritize three things: quality, sustainability, and social responsibility (or radical transparency, as Everlane calls it). For quality, you won’t find yourself donating your Everlane pieces after six months, a year, or even more because they’re just that high-quality. Prime example: I’ve had the same basic tees and tanks from Everlane for multiple years, and they still hold up just fine.

As for sustainability, the brand aims to decrease natural resource consumption, waste, and pollution. It’s also working towards cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent per product by 2030 and accomplishing Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

For social responsibility, Everlane enforces fair wages and reasonable hours at the factories it collaborates with, along with transparency behind the brand’s actual costs (i.e. materials, labor, and transportation) and prices that don’t include markups. Speaking of prices, Everlane and Madewell have near-identical tags, especially when it comes to jeans, tees, and dresses.

Zara

You don’t need me to tell you that Zara is all about shining light on the latest trends at super affordable prices. If you’re trying to shop Madewell-adjacent garments at a lesser cost, head straight to Zara’s site, especially its sale section. One thing Zara has a leg up on is its going-out and dressier offerings. It’s a much better shopping destination for those searching for a sexy LBD, festival fashion, or a wedding guest dress.

Quince

I can’t say enough good things about Quince. I already knew its bedding was fab (peep my review), but its clothing? Somehow, even better. The brand’s top-tier materials, cute styles, and affordable price tags make it a name that should sit at the top of your shopping list. I say this with confidence because t-shirts start at $15 and dresses start at $40—both much cheaper than Madewell. The one downside is that Quince doesn’t carry jeans (though it does offer some denim jackets, shirts, and dresses).

Abercrombie & Fitch

Ever since Abercrombie & Fitch’s big rebrand, shoppers near and far—including myself—have been raving about its impressive lineup. What AB&F does so well (that its competitors maybe haven’t nailed) is blending trends with versatility. Instead of finding clothing that’ll go out of style after one season, you’ll come across so many pieces you could transition from season to season and year to year. Simple sweaters, classic dress silhouettes, and tailored pants are all on the brand’s site. And like Madewell, Abercrombie is known for its top-tier jeans and denim (AB&F jeans are around $40 less than Madewell jeans, BTW).

J.Crew

Think of J.Crew as Madewell’s slightly bougier cousin. While you’ll still find Madewell-level prices here and there, J.Crew’s tags normally run a bit higher across all product categories. But perhaps that’s because the brand goes for a more sophisticated, elevated, and chic aesthetic, like if quiet luxury and coastal grandmother had a baby.